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Interesting photos. Especially the rear exhaust of the mid-engine (Cadillac or Corvette).
With the news that that plant is going to shut down for 3 months in preparation of the 2018 model year, I'm still debating whether the camo front engine/rear wheel model is a ZR1 or the 2018 Z06. During the C5 and C6 generational run, GM did not have any extensive mid-year cosmetic changes besides wheel styles, rather they just added new models, i.e. so if this camo car is a Z06, that move would go against recent GM history. Plus, if they were planning on simply refreshing the C7 Z06 with the new vents, cooling, hood, etc., why wouldn't they have simply waited for 2018 instead of making the changes in 2017, i.e. raised/tilted intercooler, cut out hood liner, secondary M7 radiator, etc.?
However, from the earlier reports from those bloggers who actually have seen this front engine camo car in the wild, they indicated that the car sounds like the current LT4. ???
P.S. - I also laugh at how GM messes with us by putting an "8" on the side of the mid-engine test mule...
People have complained about the exhaust having 4 pipes in the center. Many wanted 2 pipes on each side. It appears the mid engine has made the change.
The ME will first drop as a Caddy hybrid with a V6 TT.
The C8 will be next ME with a V8 TT non-hybrid.
OK, carry on...
I'm beginning to think this may actually be the plan. The C7 is still in the middle of it's life cycle and the upcoming ZR1 (at least that's what most think that car is including a couple of high volume dealers who post regularly).
What's really got me thinking this about the ME being a Caddy is what's going on in IMSA with the new prototype being a Caddy. Following up with a road car makes sense as Johan de Nysschenhas continually stated he wants to move the brand upward. Follows his blue print from Audi.
And yes I meant the ELR with sales were down in January 2017 -95.5%(because they dropped the overpriced CHEVROLET Volt rebadged as the ELR). Just because I called it a ERL doesn't negate the fact that it was sales failure for Cadillac(that cost them a ton of money).
Lets look at the other Cadillac models......Jan 2017 vs Jan 2016
ATS .................971, down -8.7%. But Dec 2016 sales were 2,292, Huge drop in one month's time. Shares it's platform with the CHEVROLET Camaro.
CT6 .................new model and only sold 634 of them last month. But Dec 2016 sales were 1,293. Huge drop in one month's time.
CTS................. 694, down -31.8% shares it's platform with the CHEVROLET Camaro
Escalade.......... 1218, down -.7% rebadged CHEVROLET But Dec 2016 sales were 3,388. Huge drop in one month's time.
Escalade ESV.... Up 26.3% (but only sold 979 of them last month) rebadged CHEVROLET. But Dec sales were 2,084. Huge drop in sales in a one month's time.
SRX.................67, down -98.6%
XT5................new model and sales were 3883 in Jan 2017 (and it shares it's platform with the CHEVROLET Traverse). But Dec 2016 sales were 7,436. Huge drop in one month's time.
XTS................1849, up 2%. But Dec 2016 sales were 3,129. Huge drop in sales in one month's time.
I know you will refuse to accept the cold hard facts, but December 2016 Cadillac sales were 21,446. January 2017 sales were 10,298. That's a whopping 52% drop in sales in just one month.
Huge incentives were used in December because the pricing today has become a joke at Cadillac..
A few years back as the CTS 3 rd gen released Cadillac raised prices about 6 grand compared to equally optioned previous gen..
The consumers said F ...you,,,
The head of Cadillac believes if he raises the prices people will want the brand more...
What's really is happening is people are walking away..
Bottom line is cuv s are selling like crazy and consumers are walking away from sedans...
People in general are downsizing one segment and buying a cuv...
For example...instead of a large sedan people are buying a mid size cuv...instead of a mid size Sedan they are buying a compact cuv..
Cadillac doesn't have that many cuv s...
Sales failure..
The 17 million unit sales a year in the USA is presently being held up by different manufacturers swapping months of massive lease subsidies ...and consumers follow the subsidies more so than brands...
December was a huge subsidy month for Cadillac,,,
January not so much...
Hence the massive sales drop in January...
Doesn't take a brain surgeon
Pricing is out of control and subsidies replace brand loyalty
Last edited by JerriVette; 03-27-2017 at 08:08 AM.
The ME will first drop as a Caddy hybrid with a V6 TT.
The C8 will be next ME with a V8 TT non-hybrid.
OK, carry on...
You may be on to something. Also they could use the same frame but different body panels....(the Caddy will be the butt-ugly model).
My hope is that they drop all the forced induction crap on the V-8 and just go with DOHC heads. If they turn it sideways (think Lambo Miuri), an LT5 derived from the LT1 should fit easily and could make over 700 HP and 550 ft-lb of torque....which coincidentally makes ZF's dual-clutch transaxles viable. They could also keep it cheap enough to make the step from the C7 fairly painless.
With that hood bulge being as large as it is, it's possible the DOHC is under there. I mean look at the size of it, at least a few inches higher than the Z06.
This does explain the various side vents we saw before, clearly it's a new design no shared with the Z06/GS or the base car. It's large, open, and like a blade.
I do like the star wheels and hope those make production. This thing could be pretty killer, if the numbers are right.
The two big problems with the C7 Z06 are 1) thermal issues limiting supercharger effectiveness, and 2) TOO MUCH torque ! The car is (reportedly) a handful coming out of the corners for many drivers because it is constantly breaking the rear end loose. Mercury Racing (from Mercury Marine) has put DOHC heads on LS3 and LS7 blocks and routinely made over 700 HP with less torque - reportedly 550-575 ft-lb. This would be both faster and easier to handle. I wouldn't be surprised to see this engine in the C7 ZR1 and become the base engine for the ME C8.
My hope is that they drop all the forced induction crap on the V-8 and just go with DOHC heads. If they turn it sideways (think Lambo Miuri), an LT5 derived from the LT1 should fit easily and could make over 700 HP and 550 ft-lb of torque....which coincidentally makes ZF's dual-clutch transaxles viable. They could also keep it cheap enough to make the step from the C7 fairly painless.
IF the engine can pass current and future emission regs, it would be a great fit for this car and in the Corvette line-up in general.
The MT images are the first I have seen that appear to confirm that the center of the hood is not connected to anything but the engine.
It doesn't make sense that it would be a cover for a DOHC, but more likely the exposed top of new supercharger.
Since cooling has to have been a major design consideration for the ZR1, it makes sense that Tadge and team would have taken a cue from Callaway and improved supercharger heat extraction by exposing it to the open air - plus it would look cool.
This is exactly what I've been thinking about the hood design. From a side view you can see a approximately 6 inch wide section of the hood at the back that does not connect with the hood bulge that would be the supercharger. I agree, they might be exposing the top of the supercharger to the open air (ala Callaway). Since they already had the window in the C6 ZR1 hood this new concept could expand on this concept. Very cool !!
The MT images are the first I have seen that appear to confirm that the center of the hood is not connected to anything but the engine.
It doesn't make sense that it would be a cover for a DOHC, but more likely the exposed top of new supercharger.
Since cooling has to have been a major design consideration for the ZR1, it makes sense that Tadge and team would have taken a cue from Callaway and improved supercharger heat extraction by exposing it to the open air - plus it would look cool.
The Camaro ZL1 uses a very similar design. It is not an exposed supercharger. It is just a hood that breaths better.
Last edited by Paulchristian; 04-19-2017 at 10:48 PM.
The Camaro ZL1 uses a very similar design. It is not an exposed supercharger. It is just a hood that breaths better.
I'm with Tomlink on this one. I too think the top of the Supercharger plenum is exposed to the air (ala Callaway). Only the Plenum will be much larger to accommodate the 2.65L Eaton. Exposing the plenum would definitely help in cooling where a complete vented hood that just breathes better would still contain some heat. There is a sideview shot on the Road and Track photos that clearly shows the back 6 inches of the hood disconnected from the rest of the bulge(plenum). It appears to be a bridge of sorts. Its also slightly higher than the bulge therefore not coplanar.
The Camaro ZL1 uses a very similar design. It is not an exposed supercharger. It is just a hood that breaths better.
Paul,
The ZL1 hood is a one piece unit whereas the ZR1 hood center almost certainly appears to be a separate unit - the key is why. Of course, we are all just guessing but my guess is supercharger top.
IMHO, the ZL1 hood center styling was a deliberate mimic of the upcoming functional (heatsink) ZR1 hood - similar to the way the 6th gen Camaro taillights mimic the C7.
The problem I have with the exposed engine theory is that the front of that opening is where the current grille is, and that's a bit in front of the engine. Also it seems to be a bit wide.
Looking closely at the side view photos and expanding the photos larger you can definitely see there is a bridge element that connects both sides of the hood. There is a hole in the hood and the supercharger plenum cover is exposed to the world. My question is, will it be smooth or detailed to express a high tech design. Remember the C6 ZR1 plenum top was machined to give it a high tech look.
I'm not a fan of a higher hood to look out over....I prefer the low front cowl of rear mid engine sports car...
Makes it easier to place the front of the car where I want it...
Amen to that.
It gives an ME a go-cart feeling thru corners...as though the driver is sitting on top of the front wheels.
IMO, much more preferable to the FE design of the C7.
03-27-2017, 06:15 AM
